Fires in large atmospheric storage tanks and their effect on adjacent tanks

A suite of models were integrated to predict the potential of a large liquid hydrocarbon storage tank fire escalating and involving neighbouring tanks, as a result of thermal loading. A steady state pool fire radiant heat model was combined with a further model, in order to predict the distribution of thermal loading over the surface of an adjacent tank, and another model was incorporated to predict the thermal response of the contents of the adjacent tank. In order to predict if, or when, an adjacent tank will ignite, the radiant heat from the fire received by the adjacent tank must be quantified. There are a range of mathematical models available in the literature to calculate the radiant heat flux to a specified target and each of these models is based on assumptions about the fire. The performance of three of these models, which vary in complication, was analysed (the single point source model, the solid flame model and the fire dynamics simulator computational fluid dynamics model) and, in order to determine the performance of each model, the predictions made by each of the models were compared with actual experimental measurements of radiant heat flux. Experiments were undertaken involving different liquid fuels and under a range of weather conditions and, upon comparing the predictions of the models with the experimental measurements, the solid flame model was found to be the one most appropriate for safety assessment work. Thus, the solid flame model was incorporated into the thermal loading model, in order to predict the distribution of radiant heat flux falling onto an adjacent tank wall and roof. A model was developed to predict the thermal response of the contents of an adjacent tank, in order to predict variations in the liquid and vapour temperature, any increase in the vapour space pressure and the evolution of the vapours within the given time and the distribution of thermal loading over the surface of the tank as predicted by previous models; of particular importance was the identification of the possibility of forming a flammable vapour/air mixture outside the adjacent tank. To assess the performance of the response model, experiments were undertaken at both laboratory and field scale. The laboratory experiments were conducted in the Chemical Engineering Laboratory at Loughborough University and required the design and construction of an experimental facility representing a small-scale storage tank exposed to an adjacent fire. The field scale experiments were undertaken at Centro Jovellanos, Asturias, Spain. An experimental vessel was designed and fabricated specifically to conduct the laboratory tests and to measure the response of a tank containing hydrocarbon liquids to an external heat load. The vessel was instrumented with a network of thermocouples and pressure transmitter and gauge, in order to monitor the internal pressure and distribution in temperature throughout the liquid and its variation with time. The model predicting the thermal response of an adjacent tank was shown to produce predictions that correlated with the experimental results, particularly in terms of the vapour space pressure and liquid surface temperature. The vapour space pressure is important in predicting the time when the vacuum/pressure valve opens, while the liquid surface temperature is important as it governs the rate of evaporation. Combining the three models (the Pool Fire model, the Thermal Loading model and the Response model) forms the basis of the storage tanks spacing international codes and presents a number of innovative features, in terms of assessing the response to an adjacent tank fire: such features include predicting the distribution of thermal load on tanks adjacent to the tank on fire and thermal load on the ground. These models can predict the time required for the opening of the pressure vacuum relief valve on adjacent tanks and the release of the flammable vapour/air mixture into the atmosphere. A wide range of design and fire protection alternatives, such as the water cooling system and the minimum separation distance between storage tanks, can be assessed using these models. The subsequent results will help to identify any recommended improvements in the design of facilities and management systems (inspection and maintenance), in addition to the fire fighting response to such fires

DESIGN, MODELING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE

The mechanical vibratory energy has been extracted based on the car engine’s frequency and converted into an electrical energy by making use of a bimorph piezoelectric harvesting device; this process is called energy harvesting. The output of that energy used to power-up small electronics devices such as electronic transmitters and sensors which utilize low voltage and current (1-5 Volt / 10 - 20 mA). A cantilever of Lead-Zirconate-Titanate (PbZrO3TiO2) with dimensions of (40 × 10 × 0.5 mm) has been analyzed and it’s produced an output power in the range of (100μW - 0.4mW) at resonance frequency of (≤ 0.2 KHz) under peak acceleration of (≤ 10 m/s2). This cantilever’s targeted vibration is dynamic (damped) vibration; therefore it has been subjected into continuous vibratory force. The Static Vibration is run at the first stages to check the working force and stamina of the cantilever by applying a pulse of movement and observe the response of the transient wave of the cantilever. The project aims to design and model a bimorph piezoelectric (PZT) cantilever device uses the effects of piezoelectric property to extract the mechanical vibration that is generated based on the car engine compartment’s specifications and convert it to electrical energy. Successfully, a bimorph piezoelectric harvester cantilever was designed under the optimal conditions identified in this report to extract the car engine vibration produced by dynamic vibration shaker using the typical frequencies and acceleration of the car engine and produced output power nearly 0.39 mW when converts this extracted vibration to electrical energ

THE COMPELLING NECESSITY OF HOUSING AS A MEANS OF TERMINATING THE LEASE

This study deals with the compelling necessity of housing as a means of terminating the lease, which is a permit or a means granted by the legislator or the judiciary to the owner to repossess their property as a result of the realization of an emergency circumstance. To meet the aim of the current study, a comparative analytical approach is taken into account. Given the results,  the right of the owner to repossess the property by compelling necessity is restricted by not to abuse the right in order to preserve the rights of the tenant for the purposes of housing. In fact, these restrictions, which violation constitute an abuse, are represented in the absence of the intent of abusement, that the desired benefit of the act is illegitimate and that the benefit from the same is not commensurate with the harm that afflicts others in addition to not going beyond the status established by the customs and traditions

Implementation of Fuzzy Decision Based Mobile Robot Navigation Using Stereo Vision

AbstractIn this article, we discuss implementation phases for an autonomous navigation of a mobile robotic system using SLAM data, while relying on the features of learned navigation maps. The adopted SLAM based learned maps, was relying entirely on an active stereo vision for observing features of the navigation environment. We show the framework for the adopted lower-level software coding, that was necessary once a vision is used for multiple purposes, distance measurements, and obstacle discovery. In addition, the article describes the adopted upper-level of system intelligence using fuzzy based decision system. The proposed map based fuzzy autonomous navigation was trained from data patterns gathered during numerous navigation tasks. Autonomous navigation was further validated and verified on a mobile robot platform

Urethral Stricture; Etiology, Presentation, Complications, and Outcome of Management at Gezira State, Central Sudan

Objectives: The objective is to evaluate urethral strictures in term of etiological factors, presentations and management at GHRDS, Gezira State, Central Sudan. Patients and Methods: One hundred sixty patients, who were diagnosed as urethral stricture, were enrolled in this study. All patients were dealt with through a scientific stratum of a thorough work up and managed according to the EAU guidelines. The bio-data, etiological factors of strictures, presenting symptoms and signs, the pathological types and modalities of treatment were recorded and analyzed. Results: The total number of patients was 160, only two females and the rest were males. The mean age was 46.2 ±2 years. The etiological factors were: post-surgical in 67 patients (41.9%), gonococcal urethritis in 48 patients (30%) followed by post traumatic stricture in 28 patients (17.5%). Concerning the sites 41 (25.6%) patients had bulbar urethral stricture and 24 (15%) with membranous urethra strictures. One hundred forty two (88.8%) patients were treated with visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) and the outcome of treatment was comparable to the literature Conclusion: The commonest etiological factors for urethral strictures in GHRDS were post-surgery followed by gonococcal urethritis. The outcome of management was comparable

Tissue Reactions to Various Suture Materials Used in Oral Surgical Interventions

A variety of suture materials are available for primary wound closure following oral surgical procedures. The aim was to review the tissue reactions to the various suture materials used in oral surgical interventions. Databases were searched using the following keywords: cotton, nylon, polyglecaprone 25, polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Polyglactin 910, polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid, silk, surgery, suture, and tissue reaction. Articles published only in English language were included. Seventeen studies were included. Two studies reported that polyglecaprone 25 had positive effects on wound-healing as compared to silk. Six studies reported that silk elicits more intense tissue inflammatory response and delayed wound healing as compared to other suture materials (including ePTFE, polyglecaprone-25, PGA, and nylon). Polyglactin 910 sutures were associated with the development of stitch abscess in one clinical study. Eight studies reported that tissue reactions are minimal with nylon sutures. Tissue reactions to suture materials used for oral surgical interventions may vary depending on the surface properties and bacterial adherence properties of the material

Traumatic spinal injuries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a study of associated injuries, management and mortality

Introduction: traumatic spinal fracture is a painful and disabling injury associated with poor long-term functional outcome. The objective of the present study was to assess the frequency of spinal fractures in road traffic accident (RTA) victims, their management, mortality rate and associated injuries. This study reveals and adds useful insights to the literature from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in terms of incidence of RTA-related spinal fractures, including their management and mortality rate. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid Hospital and Prince Sultan Center for Health Services (KKH & PSCHS) in AlKharj, KSA from September 2016 to June 2017. A total of 120 patients suffering from spinal/vertebral fractures due to RTAs were included in this study. The data was collected from patients' charts, including age, gender, region or distribution of the spinal fracture, associated fractures, number of fractures, degrees of shock, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), treatment modalities, along with the management of spinal fractures, days of hospital stay, referral and discharges or deaths. Results: the mean age of patients was 29.21. The most common anatomic region of the fracture was the cervical region (35%). Injuries associated with traumatic spinal fracture were predominated by clavicular fractures. More than half of the victims (58.30%) had a cervical brace applied before leaving the hospital. 29.20% patients required posterior stabilization with pedicle screws. Anterior corpectomy, grafting and plating was done to 4.30% patients. Conclusion: traumatic spinal fractures require prompt diagnosis and timely management in order to improve the outcome

Provisions of Delegation to other lawyers in a Litigation: Analytical Study in Accordance to the Jordanian law

Letter rogatory occurs when a lawyer delegates another lawyer, in a specified case and by a written letter signed by him, to perform legal tasks and duties assigned to him by means of his agency, on his responsibility, and in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the agency agreement. Under article 44/2 of the Jordanian bar association law,and article 63/4 of Civil Procedure law .the lawyer has the right to delegate one of the other lawyers, even when his agency agreement includes no stipulation that permit such delegation as long as such agency agreement is absent from any provision that prevents the lawyer from making letter rogatory, by delegating some or all of his duties under the agency agreement. When such prevention exists in the agency agreement then the lawyer is not allowed to make letter rogatory. One of the most important conditions to consider for a valid letter of rogatory is to be made when strict necessity requires only, so that the lawyer\u27s right to make letter rogatory is not made absolute and restricted by the delegating lawyer. Letter rogatory right is restricted to lawyers since the subject matter of the delegated tasks is a soliciting task, thus, letter rogatory can only be done by lawyers and no lawyer can delegate another to perform his assigned tasks unless he himself is an admitted lawyer, provided that legal transactions that can be subject to such letter of reogatory is restricted by tasks the lawyer can perform under his own agency agreemen

DESIGN, MODELING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE

The mechanical vibratory energy has been extracted based on the car engine’s frequency and converted into an electrical energy by making use of a bimorph piezoelectric harvesting device; this process is called energy harvesting. The output of that energy used to power-up small electronics devices such as electronic transmitters and sensors which utilize low voltage and current (1-5 Volt / 10 - 20 mA). A cantilever of Lead-Zirconate-Titanate (PbZrO3TiO2) with dimensions of (40 × 10 × 0.5 mm) has been analyzed and it’s produced an output power in the range of (100μW - 0.4mW) at resonance frequency of (≤ 0.2 KHz) under peak acceleration of (≤ 10 m/s2). This cantilever’s targeted vibration is dynamic (damped) vibration; therefore it has been subjected into continuous vibratory force. The Static Vibration is run at the first stages to check the working force and stamina of the cantilever by applying a pulse of movement and observe the response of the transient wave of the cantilever. The project aims to design and model a bimorph piezoelectric (PZT) cantilever device uses the effects of piezoelectric property to extract the mechanical vibration that is generated based on the car engine compartment’s specifications and convert it to electrical energy. Successfully, a bimorph piezoelectric harvester cantilever was designed under the optimal conditions identified in this report to extract the car engine vibration produced by dynamic vibration shaker using the typical frequencies and acceleration of the car engine and produced output power nearly 0.39 mW when converts this extracted vibration to electrical energ